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Saturday, November 27, 2010

This post stems from the thoughts of @gcouros' most recent post Is Change the True Barrier? Change has been and will be for the foreseeable future the most pressing issue in our schools, our communities, and in our society as a whole. George's question was simple: What is holding us back...is "change" at the heart of the problem, or is it the process leading up to the "change" that is really holding us back? Most people who will be reading this will be educators, and consequently I have included 5 ways to encourage other educators to embrace fundamental change in an educational setting:

1) - Ask lots of questions...then listen and don't talk...

Change is not easy. Change is even more difficult if you have no idea where your colleagues or staff are in terms of their willingness to evolve and transform. Go on a question rampage and find out as much as you can about your colleagues and staff. Once you have an idea of where they are, you can then begin to formulate an action plan. It is imperative that you use this step to empower and encourage collaboration through discussion (remember, the discussion is one sided - they talk, you listen).

2) - Have a goal...but expect it to change...

We all want what is best for kids...some are just willing to do more than others (this is a reality - both in schools and in the "real-world"). Have an idea and an action plan on what change you would like to implement. Just as important as having a starting place, it is crucial you accept the fact that your action plan will be forced to change. If your original plan is what you end up with in the end, most likely your change is superficial and not well-rooted in the staff and your colleagues. "Real" change can start with you, but it must end with "them"...

3) - Find that one person (or group) who will fight change to the death...

We all know who this person or group is...they exist in every school, and whether you agree or not, they do and can serve an important purpose. I challenge you to utilize this person or group and encourage them to fight your plan tooth and nail. This can be a gamble, but let them know what change you would like, and ask them why it won't work...and most importantly, give them an audience! Give this person or group the opportunity to tell everyone why your plan to help students won't work. Force this person or group to think and reflect about why the plan won't work, and then hope they flip to your side and become your greatest asset and ally...If this works you are golden...risk big to win big (aren't the kiddos worth it?)

4) - Support and encourage the baby steps...

By this stage you are hopefully beginning to see some small sparks (as long as "that" person or group didn't completely extinguish the flame). Continue to encourage and support these small sparks, no matter how small or faint they may be. Treat each small spark as you would a new born baby...tending to its every need and desire. Your new roll is now that of a mother and a cheerleader at the same time...good luck!

5) - Remove the training-wheels and let them ride...

Your first job was to initiate change, and once the change has started, your new job is to get out of the way. Drop your pom poms and let the change run its course and allow your colleagues or staff to take the autonomy for doing what is best for kids. They are professionals, and if you want this change to stick and be truly fundamental change it needs to be in their hands. If you made it this far it is time to back off!

I encourage you to leave feedback and comments so I can add to the list. I would also like to thank George Couros for the inspiration. Also, thanks for taking the time to read, and hopefully this will help you both at the classroom or building level...remember, teachers are just bigger and older kids...

Monday, November 22, 2010

Today I had the opportunity to speak with one of the members of my high school's custodial staff. This particular team member is assigned to my classroom. Though we are almost halfway done with the school year, I have regrettably not spent much time talking to this person. Today was my chance...

It was so nice to speak with the person that is responsible for making sure my classroom is ready to go for the next school day. As a teacher, I come to work every day and I take for granted that my classroom is clean and ready to go for students. I had no idea how many things need to happen in order for a classroom to be considered "clean." I spoke at length with this team member about the very strict and precise checklist that must be completed on a daily basis...wow, so many things I never even realized that needed to be dealt with.

I wrote a post back in July called "Do you Recognize the Many Pieces to the Puzzle?", and today was a great reminder of the important role others play in our lives. As the conversation was coming to an end, I simply said "thank you for all your hard work." This particular team member's response was simple but sad...she told me "you're welcome, I don't hear that very often." This response made me both sad and happy at the same time. I know this team member must be doing a great job because I have not had any classroom issues...too bad her great work has gone somewhat unnoticed. Until now...

When you go to work tomorrow, please don't forget about the people who make it all possible. We all have a certain role, and it is together that we make everything possible. I would like to encourage you to give thanks to the "stars" who help us do our jobs by doing theirs...

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Oh, Thanksgiving. Time for all those F’s we love: Food, football and...family. Okay, some of those things we love more than others.I have had many discussions over the years with one of my fellow educators about people; people that we enjoy and those we don’t. Recently, we started talking about the way we perceive people with whom we work and how that affects the way we interact with them and the impact it has on the culture of a building.

It’s a fact, no matter where you go, there’s going to be someone who is, shall we say, difficult. This is true when it comes to your family and your co-workers. Some people are hard to work with. Some are hard to get along with.

I’m not going to go all touchy-feely, and say, let’s all love each other and get along...that’s not my style. At all.

There is always going to be a principal who wants to push the “Family agenda” at school and try to convince everyone that the sense of community and caring are so strong the building just radiates with a glow of love and happiness.

I just can’t go there. But, are we, as teachers and colleagues, a family? Yes, I believe, we actually are.

What is a family, really? It’s a bunch of people you got stuck with. Some of them you love. Some of them you want to push off a steep incline. And chances are, that’s how you feel about the people you work with. Some of them make your day brighter, some of them you hope will get beaned on the head with a ceiling tile and be out for the rest of the year.

And while a family has the lovable members and the black sheep, the important thing is...everyone in that family is a uniquely talented individual. And THAT is what I care about.

Think about your best friend or the colleague you consider yourself closest to. You probably have a lot in common, but there are most likely ways you are polar opposites. You might be similar in many respects, but in others, you’re everything the other person isn’t and vice versa. Those kinds of differences are what is going to make the place you work fantastic.

Everyone in education should have two things in common – a love of education and a desire to impact lives. If you don’t wake up in the morning and WANT to change a child’s life for the better, it’s time to retire or find a new job. If we can agree on those things, we’re off to a good start because we’re all coming from the same place.

One of my favorite sayings is, “Everybody got their something.” Bad grammar aside, Nikka Costa was on to a great idea. Everyone is amazing at something or several somethings and I think everyone should be given the opportunity to show those talents. Working together helps cover our weaknesses because what someone is not-so-stellar at doing, someone else is a master.

Does this sound idealistic? Of course it does. But I believe every school year - or, let’s go crazy here, every DAY is a new beginning and another chance to refresh ourselves personally and professionally.

There will always be someone that you work with that you just do not like; it might be an administrator or the miserable guy down the hall who never has anything positive to say. But I think you have to believe that somewhere – deep down (maybe so deep it’s hard to find) – there is something in that person that makes them remarkable and has the ability to make a difference in a students’ life.

This Thursday, as you sit across the table from that odd relative bulldozing through their turkey and you’re wondering how you could possibly be related to them, remember, they’re one of the ones you got stuck with...by luck, by chance, by divine intervention, however you choose to see it.

And, next time you see that person in the hall that you would normally try to avoid talking to, smile and say ‘hi’ to them. Wonder, even if it’s for just a second, why they are where they are? What made them decide to teach? Because they’re one of the ones you got stuck with...by luck, by chance, or because the HR person was having a lapse in judgment the day they were hired...and make the best of it.

Gandhi said to “be the change you wish to see in the world”, so if we can try to change the way we see people, maybe others will give us a reason to see them differently.

*Tonya Thompson is my friend, my colleague, and a Library Media Specialist at Seckman High School in Imperial, MO.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

The popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, coupled with high-tech video games and 21st century entertainment for our students outside of school is necessitating a change in the way we as educators prepare and present information to our students. Gone are the days where we can get away with 50 minutes of lecturing. Our students are watching engaging Youtube videos and reading Facebook statuses to get their information instead of reading magazines and waiting for their favorite shows to come on TV. Today’s students want their classroom experience to be as engaging as their lives outside of school. The only problem is that most of us did not grow up in the same technological age as the students. Integrating technology into your daily plans can be a very daunting task for an educator who is not familiar with Web 2.0 tools. Here are 5 tips that will help you start using technology in your classes.

1. Get comfortable with one piece of technology at a time.

Your PLN is probably already inundating your Twitter feeds with more Web 2.0 tools than you know what to do with. Pick the most relevant tools and get comfortable using them at home. Then, do a trial run at school before you introduce the activity to your students to make sure the school’s computers have all of the necessary plug-ins and updates. Just like we tell our students, practice makes perfect. If you don’t feel comfortable using technology, you will be even less comfortable teaching it to your students.

2.Involve students in your planning.

Before I begin any technology project, I introduce the technology to a few of my students and get their opinions on it. The students know what they like and what will hold their interest. If they like it, I make that piece of technology a priority in my planning, but if they appear uninterested, I toss out that idea and revisit my Twitter feed looking for something new. Ask your students what technology they use on a regular basis. If all of your students use Facebook, make it a part of your class.

3.Lean on colleagues who have successfully (and unsuccessfully) integrated technology into their classes.

Whenever you try something new, either professionally or personally, it is helpful to have the guidance of someone who has “been there, done that.” Meet with colleagues in your building or call on your PLN for assistance when you start integrating technology into your lessons. Most teachers are more than willing to share their successes and failures with interested colleagues. You will be able to learn from their mistakes and not have to deal with some of the growing pains your colleagues had to go through.

4. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t work out as planned.

Just like our students, we learn the most when we take risks and fail. Don’t let one negative experience with technology turn you off to using it in your class in the future. Ask your students what the positive and negative aspects of the project were and take their advice to heart. Reflect on their observations, what you noticed on your own, then modify your plans and try, try again.

5.Technology integration may be extra work on the front end, but it’s worth it.

Trying something new as opposed to going with the tried and true lesson always produces a little extra work. However, the long-term benefits of engaging your students far outweigh the cost of spending a couple extra hours in front of the computer after school. As I have learned, the extra effort goes a long way to engage the students in your lesson and leave them wanting more.

Keep these five tips in mind as you begin to integrate technology into your lesson plans. With a little research, patience, and creative thinking, you will be well on your way to facilitating a 21st century classroom full of engaged, motivated students.

I would like to thank @JPPrezz for being my first guest blogger, as well as for writing this extremely informative and helpful post. JP Prezzavento is a high school English Teacher at Seckman High School, located in Imperial, MO.

Friday, November 19, 2010

1) - On Wednesday I attended my 2nd #ecosys chat: If you have never taken part in the #ecosys chat, I strongly urge you to check it out. The #ecosys chat has a new topic every week similar to other Twitter chats, however this chat centers around education reform and the interconnectedness of society and its impact on education. As the chat continued to develop, we started to discuss the dilemma of lack of educator sharing and collaboration. Ironically enough, I have found the Twitter chats to be extremely supportive and helpful as I look to grow and develop as an educator. I have received a ton of support and help from my Tweeps, and I believe the #ecosys chat will be a Wednesday night staple in my house.

2) - On Thursday I completed my first CSIP mock presentation in front of my classmates and teacher: As you might know, I am currently a high school German teacher. This means I know a lot about German and how to teach German to high school students, but I don't know a lot about Comprehensive School Improvement Plans (CSIP). I spent most of Thursday worrying about my presentation and trying to figure out how I was going to respond to the BOE (my classmates and teacher). As it turns out, I didn't really have anything to worry about...my CSIP team was very helpful and supportive, and they really helped me to understand the process while fielding the questions I was unable to answer. A little guidance, help, and support from my more experienced team members went a long way on Thursday.

3) - On Friday I was approved to attend the 2011 METC conference with @JPPrezz: What a great way to end the week! After attending the EdcampKC unconference a few weeks ago, I was hooked to the idea of trying to meet some of the great educators I have been learning from through Twitter. The METC conference is one of the best technology conferences around, and with the great reputation comes a hefty price tag. I approached my building principal @MrGrimshaw about getting the available PD funding so @JPPrezz and I could attend. After discussing this with the assistant principal at my high school the decision was made to allow us to attend. We were both ecstatic upon hearing the news, and because of the administrative support and encouragement, we have been given the opportunity to further our own growth and development. In turn, we will hopefully bring back some great ideas to share with our fellow educators.

There is so much we can do as individuals...but remember with the help and support of others we can accomplish so much more. Help and encourage others to grow and develop, while giving praise to those who have helped and encouraged you.

Friday, November 12, 2010

I typically have a clear and well-thought out purpose for each blog post, however for this blog post I am going to simply reflect on today's professional development session. I lead a PD session about 7 weeks ago for all of the staff members at my high school on social media and technology integration, and today's session was an extension of the previous session for any teachers interested. We asked each staff member to choose 3 out of 4 sessions as their PD day choices. I was excited for this because I had high hopes that lots of people would want to come to my session. I thought the first PD session earlier this year went well, thus lots of teachers would want to attend my second session. Unfortunately, my high hopes were quickly extinguished as I watched the Google Doc spreadsheet I created for staff members fill up.

The sessions were filling up quite quickly...however most people were not signing up for my session. My session was only able to draw about 40 people out of 110, and my session was by far the least popular session. No matter how you slice this, this was a direct blow to my ego, and frankly to my overall self-esteem. As difficult as it is, I want to be believe the lack of interest was not because of me, but rather because the content was not applicable. This leads me to my next concern...

Without doubt I presented the power of Twitter, blogs, and a PLN with passion and heart. I showed concrete examples of how these tools can be used by educators to grow and develop. I tried to provide specific examples of how teachers can use these tools in their individual content areas. I tried to inspire, motivate, encourage, and push these educators to their limits...What could have possibly went wrong? How would these PD sessions not be a huge success? What am I missing...?

I am currently in the process of reflecting upon these sessions and my actions. I must be very clear here...I am not looking for sympathy or a pity party, nor do I want anyone to feel sorry for me. This is the natural process one must take to improve, to grow, and to evaluate something that has been done. The process can be long, bumpy, and no fun, but it is essential.

If teachers were turned off by the content being presented in my session, then what could I have done to make it more applicable, and what do I need to do to get people (re)interested? Did I have too much passion and energy during the first session (we all know people get scared off by crazy people!)? Did I scare people off by giving them too much at one time (we all know we can only handle so much at one time)? Were staff members just not ready to embrace these new technological tools (we all know people are hesitant toward change)? The answers to these questions are eluding me, and as I reflect I seem to be finding more questions without answers.

I feel strongly about embracing social media (learning) as a powerful tool toward growing and developing as an educator, and as such I want to share this tool with others. I was fortunate enough to have someone share this information with me, and I firmly believe in "paying it forward." I just want my colleagues to understand I am not pushing an agenda, nor am I getting any kickbacks for promoting social media as a PD tool. I just want to help them like I was helped. Hopefully the more I think and reflect, the sooner I will be able to find some answers. I wish all of my fellow professional development directors, coordinators, representatives, and any other educator working with PD the best of luck. We are living in a Brave New World, and as society continues to change, we will be expected to change. Good luck to all of you.

Monday, November 8, 2010

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the EdcampKC technology conference in Kansas City, MO. This was my first "unconference," which basically means the entire conference was participant-driven and each session was presented by someone who was actually attending the conference. There was a big board set up in the main room, and before the conference officially started any person interested in presenting was able to sign up to present. This was an awesome format because each session had a presenter who was passionate about his/her presentation topic.

Everything about this experience was great...except for the fact that the people I met all live in different cities throughout the United States. This completely reaffirmed and reinforced my belief about Twitter as an essential tool in the educator's tool belt. Twitter is without doubt the best way to learn from and stay in contact with the highest number of great educators from around the world. Here are 5 ways you can help transform your department, building, and district into an environment that embraces 24/7 professional development and the power of the "Tweet."

1) - Share resources you discover by using Twitter with others - this is a perfect way to segue into the strength of Twitter.

When other educators start to see and hear some of the great ideas you are discovering, they will naturally want to know where the ideas are coming from. Take a few moments and show them the benefits of Twitter as they pertain to your growth and development. As others start to see and hear about your engaged students and staff, they are definitely going to want to know how you are doing it...share the wealth!

2) - Find a "tribe" of like-minded educators who can help you spread the word.

Seth Godin wrote a great book called "Tribes." This book is about establishing a tribe, and most importantly the strength of a group of people with a common interest. Find some educators in your department, building, and district who are already using Twitter as a PD tool. Meet with them and discuss ways to help share the power of Twitter. Focus first on the educators who you think will be easy converts, and once the group grows the Twitter revolution will be under way.

3) - Encourage and invite others to follow you and see what you are doing - don't force it!

Taking step number 2 to the next level. You CAN'T force this upon people! Take some time and slowly show people how they can use Twitter to grow and develop as an educator. You will need to be a salesman to a certain extent, but it is absolutely crucial you do not try to force others to use something in which they are not interested. Encourage educators to be consumers of information before becoming creators of information. Watching and observing how Twitter works can be the perfect transition before really jumping in.

4) - Show your students and / or parents how you use Twitter to become a better educator - students and parents can be valuable "connectors" (Gladwell - The Tipping Point)

Recognizing the power and influence of parents and students can be extremely valuable when sharing ideas and information. As we all learn fairly quickly, parents and students talk, and they talk a lot. Let's share the tools we are using to grow and develop by empowering these "connectors." When parents and students are talking about you, make sure to give them the ammunition so they can say great things!

5) - Lead by example...tweet and tweet like there is no tomorrow (value tweet, don't spam)

Leaders lead by example while simultaneously empowering and bettering those around them. Help spread the word about Twitter by being an example of how it can positively affect the professional growth and development of educators. When you tweet make sure you are tweeting information of value...the fastest way to turn off someone on the edge is by tweeting useless information they can't use.

If you have any additional strategies or tips please comment and share your experiences so we can compile an even larger list. Thank you, and good luck Tweeps!

Agora: Collaborative Classroom

Disclaimer

"Life of an Educator" is the personal blog of Justin Tarte. Here I will share my thoughts on education in an effort to improve schools by helping Educators to reflect upon their current practices and beliefs. The opinions expressed here represent my own and may or may not represent those of my current employer.